The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1887-03-30
A PERSIAN ADVENTURE.
The Romance Connected With the F1ihgt
of One of the Shah's SOns-in-Law.

The Romance Connected with the funSt
of One of the Shah's sons-in-Law.
Mr.. Benjamin, late minister at Te-
heran, Persia, tells an amusing story
of one of the Shah's sons-in-law who
took to flight on receiving an intima-
ton that the Shah deemed it proper
that he should contribute valuable
offering to the royal treasury. When
the victims father had died it had
been found that he had left share
of his large treasures by will unas-
signed to any heir, directing that it
should be buried with him in his tomb.
The coffin was deposited in mosque
which was the tomb of a saint called
an Imam Zadeh, several days journey
from Teheran. The Moayer-ul-Mamo-
lex informed the Princess, his wife,
that he proposed to make a pilgrimage
TO the shrine of a saint-such pilgrim
ages being greatly esteemed in Persia,
adding as they do to a repute
for piety. Bidding farewell
to the Princess, who little
thought how long it would be before
she should see her husband again, and.
selecting such tried attendants as could
be trusted, the Moayer-ul-Mamolek
left Teheran. After proceeding some
distance toward the shrine he had men-
toned, he took bridle-path that led
in the opposite direction, and travelled
hard until he reached the shrine.
The gray-bearded mollah came forth
from the gate to welcome the prince
with low bows and many a honeyed
phrase as he alighted. Over
looking the scene from the house.top
was the fair blooming daughter Of the
host. Perhaps, with natural touch of
coquetry, she allowed her veil to drop
for moment as the Prince looked up.
At any rate, the sight of the young
maiden suggested to him a means of
assistance in the maturing of his plan.
After the evening repast, the
Prince gave the host and father of the
damsel to understand that he would
like to have her to wife. 1t is 50 COM
mon for Persian gentlemen high in
rank. including the Shah himself, to
select wives far lower in station than
themselves that there was nothing in
the proposal to excite surprise, although
it gave the old mollah great pleasure
to think that he was to be allied to
Prince. Nor was he staggered on
learning further that the would-be hus-
band desired the marriage to take
place without delay, for haste regard
ing an affair of such Importance is also
not uncommon in Persia. The prelim-
inaries having all been arranged, a
priest was sent for, who drew up and
signed the marriage contracts. And
thus in q few brief hours the young
country girl, who had never before
seen her husband, not only found. but
welded him-and he Prince and SON.
in-law of King.
"When the Moay -Mamolek was
with his bride he told her that, not
withstanding the suddenncss of his at
tachment to her, his love was so intense
that he desired to present her with an
extraordinary token of his regard. In
word, it was his wish to bestow on her
diadem of rare value and beauty which
had been in his family for generations.
Unfortunately this prize was not in his
possession. 1t was included
with the treasures hidden in the shrine
of the saint, of which her father held
the key, under solemn oath to deliver
neither key nor treasures to living
soul. The bride of an hour eagerly re-
piled that if this were all the impede
ment that hindered possession of the
gem, she could overcome it. The KEY
of the shrine her father kept, according
TO Persian custom, under his pillow; and
as he slept soundly, she was confident of
being able to secure and return it before
he should awake al the call of the MORN
ing prayer.
''She stole through the house bare.
footed and managed to get possession
of the key without awakening her
father, and brought it to her husband.
"The nobleman gave his bride a
parting kiss, promising in a few brief
moments to bring her the coveted gift.
He proceeded at once to the Imam
Zadeh, where his servants were await
ing him with the horses. y 1t
took only a short time to rifle the tomb
of its riches and load them in saddle
bags on the horses and then the word
was: TO horse and away
Tie bride waited long Such treachery
was q new experience to her. Her
hopes gradually passed to despair.
When morning came she realized that
she had not only lost her husband but
incurred as we'll the dire indignation
of her father. But while she was la
menting the bridegroom was flying for
his life toward the Caspian sea. At
Mesched-i-Sar the fugitives found a
steamer bound to Baku. in Russia. On
board of this vessel they escaped to
Europe and travelled to Paris. "-Phila-
delphia Press.
Value of Good Name.